Brentwood home, site of Calgary's worst mass murder, sells for $425K

A Calgary home that was the scene of the city’s worst mass murder has been sold after it was put on the market in July.

Five young people were stabbed to death in the Brentwood home during a university party last April.

The young man who recently purchased the now-notorious house says he bought it for redemption in the community, and that his faith played a role in the decision.

“I thought maybe it could be not so much a financial opportunity as an opportunity to the neighbours and the families of the victims, and just to be able to spread a little bit of love and a little bit of hope in such a dark neighbourhood,” said new homeowner Kadin Osborne.

The four-bedroom house at 11 Butler Crescent N.W. was listed in July for $489,000. It sold for $425,000.

Osborne, 23, said that he plans to be respectful of the house and its history. An outdoor memorial created in tribute to the victims will remain, he said.

“I know there’s a lot of hurt that has happened there, and mourning that needs to take place, and I would maybe like to make a happy medium of the two,” he said. “Not totally forget it, but welcome people who would want to come and mourn.”

The Brentwood was a rental and once known among university students as the “Butler Mansion.”

Kaiti Perras, Josh Hunter, Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura and Lawrence Hong were stabbed to death at the home during a party there on April 15.

There had been previous calls for the city to buy the property and turn it into a park, an option neighbour Carol Shipp says she would have preferred.

“It’s just really important that people are aware of what happened and it’s really good to see the memorial that’s there,” said neighbour Patrick Chan. He added that acknowledging the tragedy helps with the healing process.

Osborne said he will live in the house by himself, and that he has no plans to sell.

Matthew de Grood, 22, has been charged in the murders of the Brentwood victims. He is set to appear in court later this month.